Twists, dead ends, cold cases: Southwest Queensland missing people who vanished without a trace
Many have been missing or presumed murdered for years while others were found deceased with no leads. These are the stories of those who were lost across rural Queensland and the families who still hold out hope to find answers.
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In 2022, more than 55,000 missing persons reports were made to police across Australia – more than 150 missing a day.
While many are found hundreds are never to be seen again.
As years go on, thousands of people have disappeared and are actively missing, with many of the cases going cold over time leaving devastated families in search of answers.
In large stretches of the country, particularly Queensland, the harsh, rugged landscape proves to be difficult terrain to search for those who go missing.
In 1973, her sister 11-year-old Joanne Ratcliffe went missing and sadly became one of the 2600 long-term missing persons in Australia, suspected to have been kidnapped with a friend at Adelaide Oval.
She formed Leave A Light On in 2015, to raise awareness for the big sister she never got to meet, and keep the memory alive for the thousands of missing people across the country.
“It helps us to bring more awareness to other families who are suffering the ordeal we have to go through,” she said in 2016.
Across southern and western Queensland hundreds of residents have disappeared without a trace and have never been found.
These are the stories of the vanished.
TERRENCE LLOYD
Goondiwindi man Terrence Lloyd was last seen on November 24 2015 at Goondiwindi.
He is believed to have travelled to NSW, as his vehicle was located near Pilliga Forest about 150km south from Narrabri, NSW.
Terrence has not been in contact with family or friends since that time and there are concerns for his welfare as his disappearance was out of character.
The father-of-seven lived with bipolar disorder and has been missing for almost a decade.
THE SPEAR CREEK KILLINGS
In 1978, three mates were on a motorbike expedition across Queensland and outback Australia.
Tim Thomson, 31, his partner, Karen Edwards, 23, and Tim’s mate Gordon Twaddle, 21, were travelling from Alice Springs to Cairns and down the coast to Melbourne.
They were missing for more than two weeks until a local man was out with his dogs and made a gruesome discovery.
The trio were found shot dead on October 24.
There was a breakthrough in the case in 2019 when investigators announced they had a suspect in the case.
A Goulburn man, who was on a similar trip at the same time, was allegedly caught in possession of one of the men’s motorbikes.
In 2023, charges were dropped against the man.
A reward of $250,000 is currently being offered for any information regarding the disappearance and murder of the three.
ELISHA CARRINGTON
First Nations woman Elisha Carrington was reported missing on August 1, 1997, by her family.
The 22-year-old – also known as Elisha, Allisha or Elly – was last seen in the Laidley area and was believed to be possibly going to Darwin.
She has been described as tanned, 180cm tall, slim build with brown hair and hazel eyes.
She has a small Egyptian Ankh tattoo on the front of her neck off to the right in black, and a red love heart tattoo with a banner across the front script ‘Mum’ on her bicep.
LUDWIG LEICHHARDT
Hailing from Germany, naturalist Ludwig Leichhardt was famous for his exploration of northern and Central Australia, before he disappeared without a trace somewhere in the Darling Downs.
On February 14, 1842, Leichhardt arrived in Sydney, Australia. His aim was to explore inland Australia after he studied in the Hunter Valley.
His first expedition took him from Sydney to Moreton Bay by ship in October 1844, where he would embark on a 4000km trip from the furthest outpost reaches in Queensland, to what is now the Northern Territory.
On December 17, 1845, Leichhardt and party reached Port Essington near Darwin. Upon return to Sydney, he was hailed a hero, and received a dramatic welcome.
Leichhardt’s second expedition was a catastrophic failure, attempting to cross the country from the Darling Downs to Perth, however, only made it 800km west due to conditions.
Members of the party nearly mutinied after learning that Leichhardt had failed to bring along a medical kit.
In 1848, Leichhardt again set out from the Condamine River to reach the Swan River in Western Australia.
The expedition was last seen in April 1848, near present day Muckadilla, west of Roma.
In the century-and-a-half since, various expeditions have set out to find trace of Leichhardt’s men, and many believe the party perished somewhere in the Great Sandy Desert.
Explorers at the time found trees around Queensland, marked ‘L’ for Leichhardt, including at Blackall and at Flinders River. In 1900, a plate inscribed with his name was found in Western Australia.
A station owner in the Darling Downs claimed in 1874 after befriending a local tribe in the Maranoa region, they passed down a story regarding a white man and his party moving bulls along the Maranoa River, who were encircled and murdered.
It is believed if true, it could explain how Leichhardt’s belongings were found so far west, as they were traded by various Indigenous tribes across the country. To this day, no trace of Leichhardt or his party remains, besides scattered artefacts.
ANITA CUNNINGHAM
More than 50 years ago, traveller Anita Cunningham, 18, went missing while hitchhiking from Melbourne to North Queensland in July 1972.
She was accompanied by Robin Jeanne Hoinville-Bartram, 19, a good friend, on the trek to see Robin’s mother in Bowen.
Four months after the girls left Melbourne, Robin’s skeletal remains appeared under a bridge where the Flinders Highway crossed the creek at Charters Towers.
She had been shot twice in the head by a .22 calibre rifle.
While Robin’s remains were found, there was no trace of Anita.
There are multiple theories from a serial killer roaming the highways of the state’s far north, to other foul play, however no trace of Anita has appeared in the half century since she disappeared.
There is a $250,000 reward for information which leads to the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons responsible.
CLIVE ROLPH
Clive Rolph is a 74-year-old Maranoa man travelling in central Queensland.
He was last seen on October 18, 2019 and has not contacted friends or family since.
Although his exact whereabouts are unknown, he was believed to be travelling around in the Gin Gin or South Burnett area.
He is described as caucasian, 170cm tall, of medium build and bald.
He was travelling in a blue Toyota Camry with Queensland registration 940VPN and often stays in caravan parks.
In 2020, his car was found near Charleville, with no trace of Mr Rolph.
His distinctive car was found by a local property owner bogged on a dirt track approximately 4 km from the Diamantina Developmental Road, approximately 45 km west of Charleville.
TINA GREER
Gold Coast woman Tina Greer, 32, disappeared on January 18, 2012, visiting her then partner in the Scenic Rim area.
She dropped her daughter off in Canungra, in the scenic rim, before driving towards Spicers Gap to see Les Sharman – her boyfriend and a known bikie.
Les Sharman was the last person to see her.
Police found her car just kilometres from his property at Swanfels, in the Southern Downs, and her phone was switched off inside his property lines.
Mr Sharman told police Tina drove away from his property on the morning of January 19, 2022 and was not seen again.
KYLE COLEMAN
Mount Isa teenager, who disappeared in February 2014, likely died from an accidental gunshot wound, a coroner found.
Kyle Jack Coleman, 17, went on a camping trip in the states north at Undilla Cattle Station with his co-worker and friend, Jack Coleman – no relation.
Police were notified when James returned to Mt Isa with no trace of Kyle, and the matter was quickly reported to police.
The apprentice diesel fitter was ‘accidentally’ killed, as the coroner could not find any evidence Jack wanted to harm Kyle in any way.
“I find that he was killed by James Coleman and his death was as a result of the discharge of a firearm by James Coleman. I find that James shot Kyle with a Mossberg bolt action shotgun. I find that both Kyle and James were intoxicated at the time of the shooting,” the coroner wrote.
No trace of a body or items relating to Mr Coleman have been found.
TRAIE OLSEN
Traie Olsen, 50, has been missing from Toowoomba since February 2022.
She was last seen at a Newtown petrol station, about 1am on Thursday February 17 refuelling her car.
Her car is noted as a silver 2004 Mazda hatchback with Queensland registration 456DC8.
CCTV footage from the service station showed her in a heated discussion with a man she had just been in a minor collision with.
The vehicle was later found abandoned and stuck in a ditch on a track on at Withcott, east of Toowoomba.
Police understand Ms Olsen would have had no reason to be there.
Toowoomba police said they have not ruled anything out, the most likely scenario was Ms Olsen’s vehicle had become stuck and she’d attempted to walk to safety.
Ms Olsen is described as caucasian, 165cm tall, slight build with black hair and brown eyes.
BRONWYN HOWARD
Mt Isa woman Bronwyn Howard has not been seen since she was last spotted in Cloncurry on April 14, 2012, vanishing without a trace.
Ms Howard is noted to frequent the Mt Isa, Cloncurry and Townsville areas.
She is described as caucasian with a tanned complexion, 170cm tall, slim build and with light brown hair.
SYDNEY CLARK
Chinchilla man Sydney Clark vanished around May 30, 2023, after his trailer was found abandoned with a shredded tyre at Chinchilla-Wondai Rd, near Durong.
One day later, police were alerted to Mr Clark’s silver Jeep Cherokee which he was seen driving days prior in the Chinchilla CBD, which was found of the side of Stockyard Rd, in Barakula, west of Durong and north of Chinchilla.
Acting Inspector Gregory Wheeler said after extensive land based and aerial searches failed to locate the 79-year-old man.
Mr Clark was last seen driving his Jeep on the afternoon of May 29 in Chinchilla and was reported missing soon after.
Police previously revealed the Chinchilla man had a medical condition which could cause confusion and disorientation, leading to concerns for his welfare.
Mr Clark is described as being caucasian, approximately 170cm tall and having a proportionate build. He also has grey, short hair and a grey beard.
TANYA BUCKLAND
Thirty-six-year-old Tanya Buckland disappeared from Warwick in August, 2013, just before her birthday.
After vanishing, Ms Buckland’s clothes were found at the Southern Downs residence of notorious murderer, Vincent O’Dempsey.
The mother-of-three simply vanished on August 11, 2013, after she was last seen on Palmerin St in Warwick.
Ms Buckland is described as being caucasian in appearance, 174cm tall with a proportionate build and has light brown hair.
Tanya has not touched her bank account and her phone is switched off since disappearing.
In November 2013, the Warwick Daily News, as well as Warwick police, received envelopes with photos of the woman saying “sorry for the inconvenience”.
Police believed the letters were sent from the Hunter Valley, in NSW. This was the last correspondence anyone had with Ms Buckland.
The twist in the case came in 2017, when Queensland Police Missing Persons Unit head Detective Senior Sergeant Damien Powell confirmed items of Ms Buckland’s were found in the home of convicted murderer Vincent O’Dempsey, but did not know what, if any, involvement she had with the man.
SUSAN THOMPSON
The Kingaroy woman disappeared in 1999, aged 49, from her property at Cushnie.
Her husband, Arthur, had told family Susan had gone shopping and never returned.
Arthur, then 64, shot himself in 2006, just days after his mother died in the house of natural causes.
Susan Thomson was declared dead by a coroner in 2007. No trace of Susan has ever been found.
ANDRZEJ KOMARNICZKI
At about 7.30pm on 12 January, 1980, Andrzej Komarniczki left his residence at St George to travel to his business premises for the purposes of checking refrigeration equipment and he has not been seen since.
The Polish man’s motor vehicle was found abandoned at a weir near the banks of the Balonne River some 300 metres from his business.
The vehicle was unlocked and the keys were in the ignition switch.
Despite a massive police and civilian search in the St George District no trace of Andrzej Komarniczki or his remains have been found.
There is a reward of $250,000 be offered for information which leads to the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons responsible
Police are treating the matter as a suspected murder.
ANTHONY JOHN JONES
Anthony Jones, of Perth, had been travelling in and around Queensland since September 1982.
Mr Jones hitchhiked around to meet his brothers in prearranged locations.
After visiting Brisbane, Mackay and Airlie Beach, Mr Jones left Townsville on October 28, 1982 to travel to Cairns with arrangements in place to meet his brother Mark in Mt Isa a week later.
Mr Jones was known to be in Townsville on the November 3, 1982 when he telephoned his home in Perth and indicated he was travelling to Mt Isa to meet his brother.
Around November 12, 1982, witnesses place Mr Jones in Hughenden.
There may be hope in the case however, as in 2022, a Coroners Court of Queensland spokesperson confirmed there was “an ongoing police investigation in relation to Anthony’s disappearance.”
“The State Coroner has asked the Queensland Police Service to follow-up specific lines of inquiry in relation to the matter,” the spokesperson told Townsville Bulletin in 2022.
There is a reward of $500,000 for any information.
CHRISTOPHER RENNIE
Christopher Rennie left his residence at Ellesmere via Kingaroy in March, 1989.
His vehicle and other belongings were left behind and he disappeared without trace.
He is described as slim build, 182cm tall, with dark brown hair and fair skin.
RAYMOND MACMILLAN
Missing man Raymond MacMillan might have one of the most bizarre stories of disappearance.
Mr MacMillan, originally of the UK, left his home in England in May, 1991, telling his family he was attending a conference in Switzerland.
He would arrive in Brisbane in May 15, 1991.
He purchased a motor vehicle then travelled to Mareeba where he obtained a prospecting licence. On May 31, 1991, he was issued with a traffic offence notice by the Cairns police.
This is the last known sighting or reference to Mr MacMillan we have.
On June 3, 1991, property of Mr MacMillan’s was found at Apex Park, at the Thomson River via Longreach, almost 1000km away.
Two days later, the vehicle purchased by Raymond in Brisbane was found abandoned at a rest area east of Longreach on the Landsborough Highway.
No trace of Mr MacMillan has been seen since.
He is described as fair skinned, 174cm tall, slim build with brown hair.
JEREMIAH RIVERS
Indigenous man Jeremiah “Jayo” Rivers, 27, was last seen at a campsite at the remote Wippo Creek, near Noccundra in southwest Queensland, about 8am on October 18, 2021.
Mr Rivers and kinship brother arranged the trip from Balranald, NSW, alongside a group of friends.
The group drove more than 1000km and crossed the closed Queensland-NSW border, which was illegal at the time due to Covid.
According to the group, soon after arriving at Wippo Creek, Mr Rivers went for a swim nearby to cool down. He did not return and was never seen again.
He was not reported missing until 3pm the next day.
One of several factors fuelling the still-active suspicious disappearance investigation are claims from a friend that the missing man called him a few hours before he apparently disappeared “begging for rescue” because he was “outnumbered” and “scared for his life”.
BARBARA TROUGHTON
Eight years ago, Toowoomba resident Barbara Troughton disappeared with questions about her wellbeing and where she went still unanswered to this day.
Mrs Troughton left her home in Newtown, Toowoomba in 2016, and hasn’t been seen since.
The former supermarket owner simply got up and left her home on the morning of January 27, leaving a note for her husband and taking $100 cash.
She was last seen getting into a car and driving off.
Mrs Troughton is described as caucasian in appearance, about 163cm tall with reddish-brown hair and green eyes and of “good character”.
STEPHEN GOLDSMITH
The last confirmed sighting of Queensland man Steven Goldsmith was on July 10, 2000 when he conducted a transaction captured on CCTV at the Commonwealth Bank ATM in New Farm.
At the time of his disappearance, he was 28 years of age. around 175cm tall, spoke with an English accent, had red hair and freckles and a fair complexion.
There is a $250,000 reward in place for information that may lead to the conviction of the person or persons responsible for his disappearance.
If any member of the public has any information about the whereabouts of any of the above, they are urged to contact police on 131 444.
Information can be reported anonymously Crime Stoppers online or on 1800 333 000.
If you need to speak to someone about mental health, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
You can read the full chat with Suzie Ratcliffe and Leave A Light on here.
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